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Re: Sputtering Stall
Posted by David Prantl - http://saabnet.com/tsn/forms/e.php3 (more from David Prantl - http://saabnet.com/tsn/forms/e.php3) on Thu, 26 Feb 2004 02:36:12
In Reply to: , Kok Chen, Sat, 17 Dec 1988 12:00:00 

Jerry,

when the car stalls, open up the gas tank.  If you hear a whoosh of air enter
the tank as you loosen the gas cap, then you have a fuel tank venting
problem.  I know of several folks with cars like yours that have had this
exact problem, including the guy who bought our '97 CSE a little over a year
ago.

The fuel pump is removing fuel from the tank, but air is not allowed to take
it's place.  Eventually, vacuum builds up in the tank to the point where the
fuel pump can no longer remove more fuel from it, and the car stalls.  We're
very lucky that our SAABs have plastic gas tanks, which can handle a lot of
internal vacuum without permanently collapsing.  If you had a late '80s
Mercedes for example, the sheetmetal tank would implode and leak, and since
it's inside the car behind the back seat (rather than hanging under the car
in the back) you'd end up with fuel-soaked carpets.  But that's another story
I'd rather not get into right now...

The tank in your CSE is supposed to be vented through the charcoal canister
system (ELCD) only.  Normally, the gas cap also has a one-way air vent in it
for additional venting, but SAAB took this away from the 9000 cars in 1995.

To fix an insufficient tank venting problem, you could waste a lot of money
and time having the dealer replace the various components of the ELCD system.
Or, you could simply replace the gas cap with a vented one, and you'll be
good to go.  A regular auto-parts chain store will carry the Stant brand of
gas caps.  Look for one intended for a classic 900 (1981-1993).
Alternatively, you could price out a vented cap for a '93-'94 CSE at your
SAAB dealer, part number 43 91 058.

There could be one negative consequence from having put your gas tank under
all that undue negative pressure.  If your fuel level gauge acts funny, the
plastic canister that supports the fuel pump may have been cracked or damaged
by the way the tank changed shape under vacuum.  If this is the case, you
could either live with an unreliable gauge, or have your fuel pump assembly
replaced at a cost of over $500.  Unfortunately SAAB does not sell individual
plastic bits of the fuel pump assembly, even though a resourceful and
determined mechanic could replace just those bits that are broken.

David Prantl

'84 900S, 5M, 210kMi, RIP as of 2/98
'89 900, 3A, 116kMi, restored and SOLD on 3/24/01
'97 9000CSET, 5M, 63kMi, Speedparts Stage-I, SOLD on 10/11/02
'93 9000CSET, 5M, 84kMi, SOLD on 3/8/03

'86 9000T, 5M, 200kMi
'86 9000T, 5M, 205kMi
'88 9000S, 5M, 142kMi
'90 9000S (B202I), 4A, 162kMi
'94 9000CSE (B234I), 4A, 165kMi
'68 97 Sonett V4, 4M, 76kMi, #000467
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